1 Samuel 8:17
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
Original Language Analysis
צֹֽאנְכֶ֖ם
of your sheep
H6629
צֹֽאנְכֶ֖ם
of your sheep
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
1 of 6
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
יַעְשֹׂ֑ר
He will take the tenth
H6237
יַעְשֹׂ֑ר
He will take the tenth
Strong's:
H6237
Word #:
2 of 6
to tithe, i.e., to take or give a tenth
Historical Context
The concept of subjects as royal "servants" was common in ancient Near Eastern political vocabulary. Vassal treaties often included language of servitude. The tenth of flocks would have been assessed annually, representing ongoing taxation of pastoral wealth alongside agricultural production.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean that Israel's pursuit of autonomy from God led to deeper bondage under human authority?
- How does Christ's invitation to take His "easy yoke" (Matthew 11:29-30) contrast with the servitude Samuel describes?
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Analysis & Commentary
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
Samuel's warning reaches its devastating climax. The livestock tithe ("tso'n," sheep/flocks) represents pastoral wealth just as earlier verses addressed agricultural resources. But the final clause delivers the crushing conclusion: "ve'attem tihyu-lo la'avadim"—"and you yourselves shall be his servants." The very word "avadim" (servants/slaves) echoes throughout the Exodus narrative where Israel served Pharaoh. They were redeemed from servitude to serve God alone (Leviticus 25:55: "they are my servants, whom I brought forth out of Egypt"). Now they will voluntarily re-enter bondage to a human king. The irony is profound: seeking a king to avoid oppression by Samuel's corrupt sons, they will become the king's property. The Hebrew construction emphasizes their transformed status—not merely workers for the king but belonging to him. This verse exposes the ultimate cost of rejecting God's direct rule: exchanging the light yoke of divine lordship for the heavy burden of human tyranny.